SILENT SKY Opening At The Long Beach Playhouse

Lauren Gunderson's play, Silent Sky, is based on the true story of astronomer Henrietta Leavitt. Nearly 20 years before American women could vote, Henrietta Leavitt graduated from Radcliff College, took a job in Harvard's Observatory and, working from slides because women weren't allowed to touch the telescopes, she discovered the amount by which the star's brightness is dimmed by distance allows the star's distance from the earth to be calculated. Leavitt turned a two-dimensional picture of the sky into a three-dimensional one.

"The play is about far more than the science of stars. It's also a love story. And a story about a life lived with hardships as well as endless optimism and joy," said Madison Mooney, Playhouse Executive Director. "I love that Henrietta never gives up. She knows she's seeing something important and her tenacity changed what people knew to be true of the universe."

A play set in an observatory in 1900 opens the door to a magnificent set and beautiful costumes. This show delivers both. Breathtaking is the only word that does justice to Playhouse Producing Artistic Director Sean Gray's set design. The same can be said for the costumes designed by Playhouse's new Costume Shop Manager and Resident Costume Designer, Christina Bayer.

"After more than 25 years with the Playhouse, Donna Fritsche is retiring," said Gray. "Anyone who's worked with Donna knows she's not only an incredibly talented designer but a truly wonderful human being who juggles demanding directors, persnickety actors and a demanding schedule of 13 shows a year.

"Fortunately, Christina Bayer applied for the job. She's got a degree in Theater Arts, experience costuming casts at the Norris Theater and a portfolio that gave us confidence she could do the job," Gray continued. "Part of the interview process for the candidates was bringing designs and suggestions for Silent Sky. Because Henrietta Leavitt was deaf, part of the costume had to include a hearing aid. Christina went above and beyond by creating a necklace with a pendant hearing aid that was appropriate to the era. We couldn't be happier with her and her work on the show."

The show is directed by Phyllis Gitlin. During the past 28 years, Ms. Gitlin has directed 36 shows for the Playhouse including the Mainstage musicals, My Fair Lady and Fiddler on the Roof. In addition to directing, she also teaches acting at Orange Coast College. She said that among the lines that resonated for her in Silent Sky was an answer to Henrietta's worry about what her life might mean, "You already matter, because what you do outlasts you."

It's a small cast, just five actors, four women and one man. Returning actors include Loren Bowen, Austin James, Brenda Kenworthy, and Holland Renton. Amber Hill is making her debut at LBP.

Mooney sums up Silent Sky by saying, "Come and see the show. It's wonderful. It's what we all need, truth, beauty and inspiration,"
The show opens April 6 and runs through May 4, 2019. SPECIAL EVENTS FOR THIS PLAY:

• Pay what you can Thursday April 4 - community can see this production for whatever they can afford
• Two for One Preview Friday April 5 - Tickets are $10.00
• Opening Night Champagne Reception with cast on February 23 - Tickets are $27.00

Friday: Adults are $20.00, Seniors $18.00, and Students $14.00 Saturday and Sunday: Adults are $24.00, Seniors $21.00, and Students $14.00. Tickets are available at www.lbplayhouse.org, or by calling 562-494-1014, option 1. To request an interview with the director, cast members or reserve your media tickets to this performance, please send an email to: pr@lbplayhouse.org.

Long Beach Playhouse is located at 5021 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach, CA, 90804, right across from the Long Beach Recreation golf course. The Playhouse is community-supported theatre with programs and events that cut across age, gender, ethnic, and cultural boundaries. Performances are 8 p.m. Friday, and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. The box office is open Wednesday-Saturday from 3:00-8:00 pm and Sundays from 1:00-2:00 pm on scheduled matinees.

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